NSW govt shoots down Labor's gun bill

A senior NSW government MP has shot down a Labor proposal giving police more power to search for firearms in the homes and cars of gang members.

Opposition Leader John Robertson has introduced legislation to amend the Firearms Act to allow officers to search without a warrant those suspects who have been issued with a firearms prohibition order (FPO).

Under current laws, the police commissioner can issue an FPO on any person he believes is unfit to possess a firearm, including gang members and convicted criminals.

But the laws don't give police the right to search them.

The community expected officers to have the powers needed to stem the flood of weapons, Mr Robertson said.

"Parliament has a choice - to stick its head in the sand or finally take strong action on gun crime," he said ahead of a vote on the bill.

Leader of the House, Brad Hazzard, said the government shared the community's concerns about gun crime.